St. Luke's Employee Named IHA Healthcare Hero

Sioux City, IA - Danny Harris, an employee of St. Luke’s Health System, has been selected as one of Iowa Hospital Association’s elite Healthcare Heroes. Harris is one of only 12 award recipients selected from more than 72,000 hospital employees in Iowa.

An employee in St. Luke’s Environmental Services, Harris is responsible for cleaning the hospital’s surgical unit. On a nightly basis, Harris waxes the unit’s floors, changing cubicle curtains and cleaning the area from ceiling to floor. His peers have long regarded Harris as an individual with a strong work philosophy which includes getting the job done, the right way, the first time around.

Beginning his career at St. Luke’s in 1971, Harris has never missed a day of work, logging a remarkable 13,800 consecutive days of work at St. Luke’s. In his spare time, he enjoys painting by numbers, creating amazing works of art which has put many smiles on the faces of hospital visitors and staff who’ve had the opportunity to view his artwork.

“Danny’s work speaks volumes about our values of integrity, compassion, accountability, respect and excellence, helping St. Luke’s achieve our mission to improve the health of Siouxland,” says Peter Thoreen, President and CEO of St. Luke’s Health System. “I do not believe you will find someone with more heart than Danny. We are very fortunate individuals like him have chosen to dedicate themselves to healthcare.”
Iowa Hospital Association’s Healthcare Heroes Award is given to a select group of Iowa hospital employees who have performed a heroic act or tirelessly given their time, talents or expertise to better their organization, patients or community, with measurable results. Healthcare heroes are people of integrity and honesty whose actions are evident in that they always place others before themselves. This is the third year Iowa Hospital Association has recognized heroes throughout the state.

This year, Harris joins a list of Healthcare Heroes which includes top physicians, nurses and other medical personnel statewide.

Harris will officially receive his Healthcare Heroes Award in October at the Iowa Hospital Association’s annual meeting in Des Moines, a meeting expected to draw some 2,000 hospital leaders from throughout Iowa.